Re: [registrars] Neulevel (.biz) concerns. Notes from original application
I dug out the original application for .biz that the ICANN board approved. It can be found at http://www.icann.org/tlds/biz4/BIZ_TOC.html The section regarding registrars is posted below. I would suggest that Neulevel may not be following their proposal. I think from the information below, it is clear that Neulevel wishes to be a "neutral third-party provider" and that "Domain-name holders will deal with the registry through registrars. The registry will avoid direct relationships with domain name holders in order to ensure its continued neutrality.". I think it is fairly clear that this statement is NOT being practiced. Neulevel has instituted 2 services (the trademark signup and the registry-lock) that do not go through a registrar, but in fact, users can go directly to Neulevel for. I think ICANN needs to take a hard look at the original proposal that was submitted to them and approved by the board. These proposed contracts seem to be in contravention of that proposal. I, for one, am against allowing a registry to deal directly with our clients on any level. Rob. ******************************************************* I.4 registrars (RFP Section E4) JVTeam will operate the registry as a neutral third-party provider. Consistent with neutrality requirements, however, JVTeam will follow existing policy models for registry-registrar relations. This approach will ensure that the Internet Community perceives JVTeam as a trusted, unbiased provider of core Internet DNS functionality while providing the registry and registrar industries with consistent, well-known, and stable business models for operation and use of the new TLD. Among the most important aspects of the JVTeam neutrality policy will be the registry’s relationship with registrars. As noted above, the registry controls a vital input in the DNS industry – the names themselves. As a result, any favoritism or unfair treatment, perceived or real, of one registrar over another may harm significantly competition in the DNS industry. Therefore, JVTeam has taken strong steps to ensure that registrars are presented with a level playing field with respect to the provisioning of registry services. In order to ensure a level playing field, a truly neutral registry operator, and the continued open, stable and technically consistent operation of the Internet, JVTeam proposes largely to follow the existing guidelines for registry/registrar relations established by ICANN for the .com, .net, and .org registries. This approach will ensure that the industry model will be well established and familiar to registries, registrars and consumers. Such stability and consistency in the models used for the introduction of new TLDs will prove highly beneficial to a successful “proof of concept” because ICANN will have relevant reference points in existing TLDs. Will domain name holders deal through registrars, directly with the registry operator, or some combination of the two? Domain-name holders will deal with the registry through registrars. The registry will avoid direct relationships with domain name holders in order to ensure its continued neutrality. A neutral third-party operator such as JVTeam must not be perceived as competing with its customers (i.e., the registrars in this case) and therefore JVTeam will not deal directly on a customer-provider basis with the domain name holder. Moreover, this approach preserves established DNS business models and will increase DNS competition at the registrar level. What are the respective roles, functions, and responsibilities for the registry operator and registrars? As the registry operator, JVTeam will be responsible for the provision of high-quality, efficient and neutral TLD registry services including registration and Whois services and database management services. The registrars will be responsible for domain name holder registrations, customer relations, and additional services. JVTeam’s strict adherence to the registry Code of Conduct discussed above will ensure that no registrar is treated unfairly vis-ŕ-vis JVTeam services and that no registrar or group of registrars will be able to unduly influence JVTeam’s operations and services. Under this model, the registrars will be responsible for all consumer/end-user relations and the registry will be responsible for the fair, efficient, and high-quality technical operation of the registry itself. Thus the registry maintains unquestioned neutrality and can implement, so long as technically feasible, any registrar policy adopted by ICANN for the benefit of the Internet community. Unlike the existing registry, however, JVTeam proposes to operate a “fat” registry. This “fat” registry will centralize the databases normally associated with the registry but typically operated separately by each registrar. The decentralized approach is inefficient, requiring significant duplication of efforts and resources. JVTeam intends to eliminate such duplications and, using the associated economies of scale, reduce the costs of DNS services to the registrars. --
Rob
Hall
voice (613) 768-5100
President
fax (613) 820-0777
Momentous.ca
Corp.
rob@momentous.ca
www.momentous.ca
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